Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Practice

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Which class of medication is primarily used to treat depression?

Stimulants
Antidepressants
Antipsychotics
Anticonvulsants

The correct answer is: Antidepressants

The class of medication primarily used to treat depression is antidepressants. Antidepressants work by balancing certain chemicals in the brain, specifically neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, which are thought to play a role in mood regulation. There are various types of antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and tricyclic antidepressants, each with distinct mechanisms of action and side effect profiles. The other options, while important in their respective contexts, do not primarily target depression. Stimulants are generally used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. Antipsychotics are mainly prescribed for disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, where mood stabilization is necessary but not primarily aimed at treating depression alone. Anticonvulsants are utilized primarily for seizure disorders and certain mood disorders, but they are not the first-line treatment specifically for depression. Therefore, antidepressants are the go-to class of medications for effectively managing and treating depressive symptoms.